Combination shirt wrapper and collar support



Jan. 5, 1954 H. A. TOMARIN 2,665,051

COMBINATION SHIRT WRAPPER AND COLLAR SUPPORT Filed April 4, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet '1 I l-r4 r74 l INVENTOR.

HARRY A. TOMA RIN Jan. 5, 1954 H. A. TOMARIN COMBINATION SHIRT WRAPPER AND COLLAR SUPPORT Filed April 4, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

HARRY A. TOMARIN Jan. 5, 1954 H. A. TOMARIN 2,665,051

COMBINATION SHIRT WRAPPER AND COLLAR SUPPORT Filed April 4, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 so A FIG 8 INVENTOR.

HARRY A. TOMARIN ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 5, 1954 COMBINATION SHIRT WRAPPER AND COLLAR SUPPORT Harry A. Tomarin, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to Loroco Industries Incorporated, Reading, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application April 4, 1950, Serial No. 153,854

1 Claim.

This invention relates to protective devices for laundered shirts, and more particularly to a onepiece combination shirt wrapper and collar support.

An object of the invention is to provide a combination shirt wrapper and collar support for use with new and/ or laundered shirts which will effectively eliminate the need for shirt boards, separate collar supports, and shirt encircling bands.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination shirt wrapper and collar support wherein the collar support is constructed in such a manner as to provide maximum protection and support for the shirt collar.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a collar support for association with the inside or neck-band portion of a shirt collar and which includes locking and lifting means which are constructed. and arranged to project forwardly of and under the collar band whereby to lift and maintain the forward part of the collar and the collar wings in upstanding condition. These means likewise effectively preclude accidental and/or unintentional disengagement of the collar support from the collar of a shirt.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination shirt wrapper and collar support which is particularly adapted to be associated with an ironed shirt while the shirt is still on the blade of a shirt folding device.

Still a further object of the invention'is to provide a shirt wrapper and collar support assembly wherein the ends of the wrapper are constructed in such a manner as to lockingly engage portions of other similar wrappers for effectively precluding lateral shifting of wrapped shirts stacked one upon another.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a combination shirt wrapper and collar support having the hereinabove described characteristics which may be produced and fabricated, using modern mass production methods, for a cost not exceeding the present cost of a separate shirt board and collar support.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a combination shirt wrapper and collar support wherein the wrapper support of the assembly includes a rear panel or panels the length of which projects beyond the collar support by an amount sufficient to underlie and therefore reinforce the back portion of a shirt at its upper corners or edges, thereby effectively precluding mussing of the breast portion of the shirt in the vicinity of the collar. These and other objects are attained by the means described herein and as disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a combination shirt wrapper and collar support embodying the teachings of the present invention.

Fig, 2 is a plan view of a collar support, per se, comprising a detail of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a top view of the collar support of Fig.

2 showing it in a flexed, ready-to-insert condition.

Fig. t is a plan view of the blank from which the device of Fig. l was fabricated.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 6 is a plan view or" a modified form of blank comprising a detail of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 5 but illustrating a wrapper and collar support fabricated from the blank of Fig. 6,

Fig. 8 is a plan view of two stacked shirts, each of which is housed within a combination wrapper and collar support as disclosed in Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the collar support of Fig. 2 in a ready-to-insert condition.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but illustrating the collar support of Fig. 9 in association with the shirt collar.

With reference now to Fig. 4, it will be observed that the combination shirt wrapper and collar support may be fabricated from a sheet of material, such as, by way of example, cardboard, which has been suitably formed whereby to provide a front or central panel 20 and a pair of rear panels 22 and 24. The width of front panel 29 is defined by a pair of laterally spaced fold or scored lines 26. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a second scored or fold line 28 is located in spaced parallelism with each of lines 26, wherein the lateral spacing between adjacent lines 26 and 2t defines the height, or side wall width of the tubular wrapper fabricated from the blank of Fig. 4.

An intermediate panel 3t projects upwardly from upper edge 32 of the central panel, wherein the width of said intermediate panel, as measured between points as and 35 is of such a dimension as to overlappingly engage the wings .93 (see Fig. 8) of a shirt. The height of the intermediate panel is of a dimension not less and preferably greater than the overall vertical height of the neck-band of a collar when in the fully elevated condition illustrated in Fig. 5.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the lower portion of the intermediate panel is defined by a pair of laterally spaced slits 5-2 which extend downwardly into the body portion of front panel 26, in which case the overall height of panel as would comprise the distance between a straight line interconnecting points 2 1 and a line connecting the ends of slits t2.

A neck-band engaging strip 239 is secured to and formed integrally with intermediate panel 39 to which it is connected by the stock disposed between points Strip 5e includes an inner edge 52, an outer edge 5% and side edges 56.

A slit 58 is disposed on the longitudinal axis of front panel 28 and intermediate panel 30 is provided in outer edge Ed, said slit defining the adjacent ends of a pair of lock tabs St provided in the central portion of the outer edge of strip 58. A plurality of cuts 62, a l, 63 and it defines the inner edges of tabs 66. A notch it is thus formed 3 in the inner edge of each tab adjacent its outer edge 58, and inner edge 68 diverges upwardly and outwardly from the notch for defining a tab the length of which is of a dimension which exceeds the lateral spacing between the upper adjacent edges of collar wings 40. The outer ends of slits 68 may terminate in slits 70 wherein the relationship between slits 68 and I0, on the tab side thereof, defines an obtuse angle.

If desired, the outer edge of strip '50 may be provided with an outwardly projecting central portion ?2, as illustrated in Fig. 4, or this projecting central portion may be omitted as illustrated in Fig. l. Preferably score or fold lines III diverge from opposite sides of the connection between panel and strip 50, as at points '44, said lines terminating at slits 68 for defining a reinforcing panel ?5. The lateral spacing between th ends of fold lines 74 remote from panel 38 is of a dimension not less than the lateral spacing between the upper adjacent edges of the collar wings.

Rear panels 22 and 2d are suitably secured in overlapping relationship for comprising a composite rear panel, thereby providing a tubular envelope or wrapper into which that end of a folded and laundered shirt remote from the collar may be inserted with strip'50 uppermost. In this connection, it will be oberved that the wrapper may be most conveniently associated with a folded ironed skirt while the shirt is still mounted on the blade of a shirt folding device, which evices are standard equipment in all laundries.

Central panel 25 (see Fig. 8) is shifted upwardly over breast panel 39 of the shirt whereby the lower ends of collar wings as will bereceived beneath central panel 28 and there maintained in contacting relationship with the front or breast panel 80 of the shirt. This operation will likewise dispose intermediate panel 30 in inclined, overlapping relationship with the front portions of the collar whereby the adjacent edges of the front of the collar are entirely and completely covered and nothing has been interposed between the collar and its neck-band.

Strip may now be inserted intothe collar band incident to the application of a force which will fold it downwardly relative to the uppertportion e4 l-t of the intermediate panel. This: action will result in the outer end portions of strip 58 assuming a concave relationship as defined by the inner face of the collar band. Such flexing of strip 53 will result in tabs. 60 being projected forwardly from the plane of strip 50 whereby their free ends may be projected for wardly of and disposed under the lower edge of the collar band, thereby locating'notch 66. directly under the seam between the collar band; and the front or breast panel it of the shirt,.for elevating the front part of the collar band as clearly illustrated in Fig. 5, while automatically locking. the strip against accidentalor unintentional displacement therefrom.

The described construction will result in the reinforcing panel assuming a. substantially flat. coplanar relationship at right angles with. the rear shirt panels when strip 50 is folded interio'rly of the collar band, and the relationship between this panel and the strip is such as to transmit loads applied to its upper edge 63,. see Fig.5, to: those portions of the strip beyond, that is, outwardly of, the innermost ends of tabs '60 as 'defined by the ends of slits I0.

With particular reference now to Fig. 5,.itwill be noted that the divergent edges 68 of tabs 60 engage the lower portions of the inner face of collar band 88 for including its lower edge 82 forwardly from and out of the plane of that portion of strip 50 above and spanning tabs 60.

With particular reference now to Fig. 8, it will be observed that the overall length of the rear panel or panels is such as to extend beyond the upper or outermost edges 94 of the shirt as at 86, thereby providing full and adequate support for the top of theshirt, which support will effectively preclude mussing of breast panel adjacent the collar.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the opposite end edges of the front and rear panels are provided with an irregular edge, denoted generally by the numerals 90, and, as best disclosed in Fig. l, the center portion of the end edges, as at 92, is longer, as measured from edge 93, than are the end or'side portions 94. This construction facilitates an interlocking engagement between the irregular edges of similar wrappers (see Fig. 8) particularly when such wrappers have been disposed around a shirt and wherein such shirts are stacked one upon another, The interlocking engagement of irregular edges 90 effectively precludes relative lateral shifting of the wrappers and their associated shirts, thereby facilitating neat and secure stacking, and wrapping of laundered shirts.

As best disclosed in Fig. 8, it will be noted that the irregular edge 90 of the front panel of the Wrapper around the lower shirt, B, will interlockingly engage the lower edge of the rear panel of the wrapper around upper shirt, A.

It should likewise be noted that this interlocking feature enables shirts to be stacked one upon another with the collars uppermost, or with alternate collars disposed in reversed relationship, that is, one collar would be up whereas the collar of the next superposed shirt would be down.

With particular reference now to Figs. 2, 3, 9

and 10, I have illustrated a collar support strip,

r closed inFig. 4. The collar support, per se, may

be considered as comprising an elongated strip I 00 including upper, lower and end edges I02, I04 and I06, respectively. A slit I08 intersects lower edge I04 and comprises the inner, abutting edge of a pair of tabs IIII provided in the lower portion of-strip I00.

If desired, the lower central portion of strip I 00 may project beyond the mean plane of lower edge I04, as at H2, it being noted that slit I08 intersects lower edge I04 centrally of portion -I I2.

A notch H4 is provided in the upper edge of each of tabs I'I0 adjacent, but laterally spaced from, slit I08; A slit II-6 diverges upwardly and outwardly from the bottom of notches I for defining the length of tabs III), which length is of a dimension exceeding the lateral spacing between the upper adjacent edges-of collar wings 40.

The free upper or'outer end of slits I I6 may terminate in an end portion II-8' which is disposedends of the tabs under lower edge I30 of collar band I32 of a shirt, see Fig. 10, and for locating lower edge I30 of the collar band in notch N4 of the tabs.

As clearly illustrated in Fig. 10, the lower portion of the front part of collar band I32 will be deflected forwardly out of, or away from, the mean plane of portion I34 of strip I00, thereby effectively seating the lower edge of the collar band in notches I 14, while raising the upper edge of the breast panel 80 of the shirt upwardly for accommodating wing 40 in an upstanding position.

It will be observed that lug I29 will likewise be projected outwardly and under portions of the lower edge of neck band I32 remote from the front portion thereof, whereby strip I00 will be anchored under the lower edge of the neck band at its ends and central portion. However, it should be clearly understood that strip I00 will resist accidental or unintentional disengagement from the collar band even in the absence of lugs I by reason of the interlocking engagement of the lower edge of the collar band in notches H4.

With reference now to Fig. 6, it will be observed that a different type of neck-band engaging strip 200 has been provided wherein the upper or outer edge 202 is provided with a centrally disposed, outwardly projecting locking tab 204 wherein the length and width characteristics of the locking tab are of a dimension approximating the overall width of band 200. Intermediate panel 230 is similar to intermediate panel of Fig. 4, and the relationship of scored lines 274 bear the same relationship to each other as the relationship earlier described with reference to fold lines 14 of the wrapper disclosed in Fig. 4.

The combination wrapper and collar support of Fig. 6 is associated with an ironed shirt by introducing the wrapper portion upwardly over that edge of the shirt remote from the collar for disposing intermediate panel 230 in overlapping relationship with collar wings 40. Strip 200 may then be folded downwardly over the upper edge of the neck-band for disposing strip 200 interiorly of the neck-band, after which locking tab 204 may be inserted forwardly beneath the central portion of breast panels 80 and in overlapping relationship with rear shirt panel 8 I. In this manner accidental or unintentional withdrawal of strip 200 from the shirt band is effectively precluded.

From the foregoing it will be observed that I have provided simple, inexpensive, yet highly emcient means for not only supporting the collar portion of a shirt, but also for effectively wrapping the shirt in such a manner as to render unnecessary the need for so-called shirt boards. My wrapper not only protects the wing portions of a laundered collar, but it precludes mussing of the collar portions incident to association of my wrapper and collar support with the collar portions of a freshly laundered shirt, thereby materially reducing the mussing heretofore inherent when prior art devices were associated with a laundered collar.

The irregular edge portions 90 have enabled me effectively and without additional expense to provide a neat package of laundered shirts which will preclude undesirable lateral shifting of the stacked shirts.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications in the structural details of the device may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. At this point it should be observed that in Fig. 4 one end of the outer edge of strip 50 has been provided with a laterally projecting lug tab 57, whereas the other end of said strip has been provided with a lug tab 59 which does not project beyond side edge 56, but which is defined by slit 6! adjacent edge 54. It will be noted that I have thus illustrated alternate constructions and that strip 50 would, in actual practice, be provided at each of its ends with lug tabs 51 or 59. It should likewise be understood that slits 42, which define the lower portions of intermediate panels 30, may, if desired, be omitted and terminate instead as side edges 242 at upper edge 32 of front panel 20, as illustrated in Fig. 6.

What is claimed is:

A combination shirt wrapper and collar support for laundered shirts of the collar attached type comprising a tubular body portion including a front and a rear panel, an intermediate panel integral with and projecting upwardly from the upper edge of the front panel, a neck band engaging strip including a central portion and an outwardly projecting end portion integral with and extending outwardly from each side of the central portion, the central portion of the strip being integral with and projecting upwardly from the center upper portion of the intermediate panel remote from the front panel, the intermediate panel having a width greater than the open space between the collar wings at the front thereof to overlie the collar wings and urge the wings toward the shirt front, a plurality of tabs integral with the neck band engaging strip, the tabs being within the ends of the end portions and within the upper edge of the strip remote from the intermediate panel, the upper edge of the strip above the central portion having a slit intersecting the upper edge, the slit dividing the outer ends of a pair of the tabs, a notch in the inner edges of each tab of the pair of tabs adjacent the outer end thereof, the inner edges of the pair of tabs diverging downwardly and outwardly away from the notches toward the end of each of the end portions of the strip, the tabs extending under and engaging the collar band when the strip is placed adjacent the collar band, whereby the tabs prevent accidental or unintentional displacement of the strip from the neck band and the strip will transmit a load applied to the connection of the strip with the intermediate panel to that portion of the strip remote from the tabs.

HARRY A. TOMARIN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,998,151 Wordingham Apr. 16, 1935 2,014,097 Alter et a1 Sept. 10, 1935 2,146,052 Blumenstock Feb. 7, 1939 2,197,173 Bacon Apr. 16, 1940 2,204,004 Steele June 11, 1940 2,204,419 Lighter June 11, 1940 2,243,350 Lighter May 27, 1941 2,334,068 Chadwick Nov. 9, 1943 2,358,790 Curruth Sept. 26, 1944 2,373,855 Shaw Apr. 17, 1945 2,379,726 Levkoif July 3, 1945 2,537,765 Iverson Jan. 9, 1951 

